Google has released their official stock camera app into the Play Store as of today! Moving along to offering more stand-alone varieties of their Google branded apps, much like what they did earlier in 2013 with their Google Keyboard.

The stock Google camera is now available for download via the Play Store. / © Google Play

The new stock camera app includes a new interface and some new nifty features, such as a lens blue feature and viewfinder fix that allows you to capture 100% of the photo you're taking. Thankfully, the app is not just constrained to Nexus devices and is working across different devices and manufacturers.

The new blur feature in action with the stock camera app. / © Google Play

In order to be able to grab the updated app from the Play Store, you’ll need to be running an Android device with KitKat (sorry anyone not quite up to speed with Android 4.4). One of the advantages of moving towards releasing this as a stand-alone app is that Google can now roll out updates specific to their camera without having to release an OTA update for the operating system.

Also, check out the following video from the Android Police of what the camera app does if you try to take a vertical video? Thanks Google!

You can grab the new stock camera app either via the Google Play Store or by grabbing the APK file that is hosted over at Android Police. 

[Update: 17 April 2014, Berlin, 4 PM]

As shown in an APK teardown by Android Police, we still haven't seen the end of the Android camera development. In the code hides some clues that point towards more functions that could be released in future updates.

One of these is the possibility to apply Photosphere photos as live wallpaper. There could also be more settings options for advanced users in areas that have lagged behind other manufacturers and that in comparison with previous versions seems to have taken a few steps backward.

Three more camera modes are also hinted at in the code: an advanced mode, a time lapse mode and a wide-angle mode. When capturing videos, a photo can also be taking while it is still rolling, a possibility that many other apps and custom ROMS already offer. According to the code, more video effects could be on their way.Three more camera modes are also hinted at in the code: an advanced mode, a time lapse mode and a wide-angle mode. When capturing videos, a photo can also be taking while it is still rolling, a possibility that many other apps and custom ROMS already offer. According to the code, more video effects could be on their way.

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